Bell County Bar Association News

See the 22nd Emergency Order from the Supreme Court.

22nd Supreme Court Order.pdf

The Bell County District Judges are posting the Revised Bell County Standing Order Regarding Children, Property and Conduct of the Parties for your view and comment. Please submit your comments, if any, to me as Local Administrative Judge on or before Friday, August 21, 2020. The Revised BCSO updates various provisions and adds language concerning electronic data as per the Texas Family Code. The primary change to the Revised BCSO is that it mandates Alternative Dispute Resolution, unless waived by the Court, for all cases filed on or after September 1, 2020.

Judge Gordon G. Adams

Local Administrative Judge

Bell County District Courts

Proposed Revised Bell County Standing Order 2020.pdf

BELL COUNTY CCL 2- scheduling a plea.pdf

Attached is the 8th Directive from Judge Blackburn regarding face masks for Bell County.

Bell County Directive_8.pdf

Attached is the 18th Emergency Order from the Supreme Court

18th Emergency Order Supreme Court.pdf

Attached is the First Amended Order Regarding Deadlines signed by Judge Jones.

First Amended Order Extending Deadlines.pdf

includes "Vulnerable Population" notice

In accordance with the recently approved COVID-19 Operating Plan for the Bell County Judiciary, CCL#2 will begin to hear non-essential hearing after june 1, 2020. ALTHOUGH CCL#2 IS AUTHORIZED TO BEGIN JUNE 1, 2020, WE WILL NOT RESUME UNTIL THE WEEK OF JUNE 8, 2020.

Please see attached for additional information and dockets for the week starting June 1, 2020

6-1-20 CCLCriminal Dockets - Updated procedures.pdf

Please see attached documents from Judge Adams.

Attached is the COVID-19 Operating Plan for the Bell County Judiciary which was approved by the Presiding Judge of the Third Administrative Judicial Region on May 27, 2020.  A copy of the email from Judge Stubblefield  approving the Plan is also attached. The approval of this Plan will allow courts in Bell County to proceed with non-essential, in person hearings beginning June 1, 2020. These hearings will have to comply with this Plan, the prior orders of the Texas Supreme Court, and the guidelines of the OCA. The District Courts have elected to primarily continue with video-conference hearings via Lifesize through the month of June. We plan to start transitioning to a combination of Lifesize hearings and in person hearings in the month of July. All of this could change, of course, if the Texas Supreme Court and OCA place further restrictions on the courts.  For information about procedures for specific courts, please contact the court coordinator for each court by e-mail or as requested by that particular court.  In addition, please note that Emergency Order #17 of the Texas Supreme Court, dated May 26, 2020, has extended the suspension of jury trials until at least August 1, 2020.

Gordon G. Adams

Local Administrative Judge

Judge, 169^th District Court

Bell County, Texas

Approval Email from Judge Stubblefield - COVID-19 Operating Plan for the Bell County Judiciary.pdf

COVID-19 Operating Safety Plan for the Bell County Judiciary - Approved.pdf

Attached is the 17th Emergency Order issued by the Supreme Court

17TH EMERGENCY ORDER SUPREME COURT.pdf